Moving on

Smack dab in the middle of a sweltering summer just over two years ago, I found myself in deep, dark, uncharted territory. Ten years of malleable circumstances that I had naively interpreted as inexorable truths suddenly crashed down both personally and professionally. As my twenties came to a close, everything was different, and in ways I had trouble viewing through a positive lens.

Amid several weeks of self-imposed exile, I suddenly remembered something that would soon change everything: Justin Amash was hiring a Communications Director. So I did the only logical thing I could think of and slid into his DMs to ask if the position was still open. It was. And this knowledge became the catalyst for every incredible occurrence in my life since. It gave me the courage to walk away from a situation that was destroying me personally and provided a desperately needed sense of purpose professionally.

Suddenly, I had the strength to exist outside of barely keeping smoothies down and listening to “Heart of the Matter” on repeat. And when Justin offered me the job that I never thought I’d be in a position to accept yet suddenly was, I knew then that no matter what happened, there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

But little did I know just how quickly everything would turn around. A mere few months into my time on the Hill, I ran into the man who saved me, my incredible husband Kenny, at a watch party on election night. We’ve been together ever since, and I think a lot about how Justin hiring me and my subsequent move to D.C. laid the groundwork for the most important thing that’s ever happened in my life. It’s something I don’t take lightly.

And that’s why I didn’t make my most recent decision lightly, either. Today was my last day in Justin’s Capitol Hill office. But it’s far from my last day as an advocate for the principles that he so eloquently and effectively defends on a daily basis. It sometimes seems in today’s world of vile partisanship and ignorant tribalism that liberty has been thrown by the wayside. But I believe that most people are seeking a third way; a way that cuts through the noise and upholds the essential truth that we are all born free and ought to remain so indefinitely.

Both Justin and my colleagues have taught me invaluable lessons over the past two years, and working for someone as brilliant and fun as Justin has been the opportunity of a lifetime. Perhaps most importantly in the long-run, Justin and Poppy have made me a much better writer than I was before I set foot in this office. Just yesterday he was coaching me on commas! But despite improved skills, I will never possess the ability to express my gratitude for what my time in Justin’s office gave and taught me, including some of the most hilarious inside jokes and “devious conversations” anyone can ever hope to be a part of.

Yet just as I desperately needed to accept my job two years ago for personal and professional reasons, I need to move on for those purposes now. So much has changed in my life for the better, and my season as a Hill staffer is, quite simply, over. I arrived at a point where I knew it instinctively, and I never questioned that.

This means, for those of you who remember me as a writer, I’ll soon be making a professional return to publishing under my own name. It also means that I’m actively seeking consulting opportunities, both in politics and under a much broader scope than I once limited myself to. If you want to chat about any of that, shoot me an email at Corie@CorieWhalen.com. And stay tuned, because there’s a lot more coming extremely soon!